Hey guys. I just got a 1993 Buick Park Avenune, for a steal from the guys I work with at the shop.

Anyways, its got the wonderfull 3800. Too bad it isn't an ultra Although I would love to put a series 2 SC 3800 in her. Its a teal color, and the paint is in very nice shape. The car appears to have been well maintained, and the body has very little rust for a N.B. car.

Its loaded. Has everything except the SC 3800, a sunroof, and leather. Oh well, its still plenty loaded. Rear air levelling suspension, ABS (it works!!!) dual zone climate control, keyless, everything. It even has Park Avenune lettered on the front seats!! Carpet is real furry. Its the type of car i could live in, lol.

Pictures!!






Anyways, the issues..
The keyless remote does not work. I'm assuming its the batteries. I opened it, and it takes 2--3 volt button batteries. If I replace em, it should work, right?

Oil guage shoots right to the bottom of the dash when the car is started cold. when its warmed up, it flickers very rapidly with the throttle, and this little light above it keeps flickering with it too. I'm guessing its a bad sending unit, or a bad connection?

This 3.8 has a plastic intake manifold. Its a series one i'm sure. Are these the same stupid plastic intakes that causes so much trouble?? One thing'* for sure, I hate it, but the motor runs real smooth, and I'll be doing some more work to it. (filters, plugs, wires, etc. Hook scanner up..)

Anyways, thats it for now. I'm real happy with the car, and glad I have something newer with a LOT LESS RUST. LOL. More details later.

Not necessarilly. RKE module could be shot as well.

Either/or. But sending units are notorious for going haywire on this forum, and are not all that expensive to replace if need be. And for the record, oil pumps rarely, if ever, go bad in these motors. So either you have thin oil (which is entirely possible if you drop a coil pack and drive it around like nothing happened, like the former owner of my car did), or the sending unit is flaky. I choose the second scenerio.

Nope. Different intake manifold altogether. And does not have the same problem as the L36 manifold does. In fact, these manifolds are considered by some people on the forum superior in design to the L36...though neither are compatible with each other.

Car looks great, and will last you a long time. And don't knock the L27. It has alot of potential

The L27 is a freaking BULL ELK for durability, and in a car like the PA (C body is a bit heavier) the bottom end grunt of the L27 will serve you well. It develops it'* power lower than an L36 (in the rpm band) getting you moving a bit better off the line. The L36 comes on at a higher RPM. Each engine has it'* distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Onto your problems.

Replace the FOB batteries and program the FOB using the guide in Techinfo.

Your Oil Pressure sender does in fact sound like the culprit. It'* located on the back of the block just above the oil filter/adapter. Go in through the right front wheelwell with the wheel and splashguard removed.

The difference in UIM design/durability is PRIMARILY where the EGR stovepipe is located. On the L36, it'* very close to the coolant passages. On the L27, it'* in the same spot as a Series 1 L67/M62 supercharger. Far from coolant, and in a stronger area of the manifold.

Tim, you're gonna love that ride. I got the exact same '93 PA w/ about the same options. It was my grandfathers car and I inherited it after he died. This was about a year ago...it had 14,000 miles! It was the original creampuff, but I did have issues w/ the ABS brakes, the interior climate controls, PIA auto antenna mast and now at 92,000 miles I have developed a pesky coolant leak that is probably coming from a lower intake manifold gasket...I'm about to dive into its replacement today. All of this being said about my PA, I can't help but love that oldster mobile. I put on a lot of highway miles and the "Dynaride" is truly like hangin out on your sofa as you cruise down the hwy. The 3.8 series I is by all my accounts a great motor and I hope to go about 250K in grandpas buick. This site is such a great resource with some really good folks. I'm sure we can both learn a lot as we go.

Sleo33, please post on topic. This isn't the Lounge or General Chat. Keep your comments directly related to his mechanical problems.

Oh, so those were good intakes?? WOW, SUPER.

Yeah, 341000 kms, I bet its all original. I did feel as if though the car were quicker than my LeSabre, but thought it was in my head.

Thanks for the help.